Thermostat

ABSTRACT

A thermostat including a switching device, a first connector operably coupled to the switching device, a computing device in electrical communication with the switching device, and a second connector operably coupled to the computing device, wherein the computing device is configured to transmit and receive signals to the second connector over a system bus.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a nonprovisional patent application, which claims priority to 62,271,154, filed Dec. 22, 2016, which is herein incorporated in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

The presently disclosed embodiments generally relate to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (“HVAC”) systems, and more particularly, to a thermostat.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

Generally, an HVAC installer must carry a number of thermostat options based on the different combinations, for example, single-stage, multi-stage, programmable, non-programmable, and etc., available for an HVAC system. If the installer forgets or doesn't have the right thermostat for the combination, installation is delayed; thus, negatively impacting customer satisfaction. Moreover, the large number of thermostats increases the carrying cost for the installer.

Accordingly, there exists a need for a HVAC system controller than can handle a large number of different system combinations.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

In one aspect, a thermostat is provided. The thermostat includes a switching device, a first connector operably coupled to the switching device, a computing device in electrical communication with the switching device, a second connector operably coupled to the computing device, and a system bus operably coupled to the computing device and the second connector, wherein the computing device is configured to transmit and receive signals to the second connector over the system bus.

In an embodiment, the computing device includes a microprocessor and a memory. In an embodiment, the computing device is further configured to operate the switching device. In an embodiment, the switching device includes a relay.

In an embodiment, the thermostat further includes a user interface element in electrical communication the microprocessor. In an embodiment, the thermostat further includes a user input element in communication with the microprocessor.

In one aspect, an HVAC system is provided. The HVAC system includes a thermostat including: a switching device, a first connector operably coupled to the switching device, a computing device in electrical communication with the switching device, a second connector operably coupled to the computing device, and a system bus operably coupled to the computing device and the second connector, wherein the computing device is configured to transmit and receive signals to the second connector over the system bus. In an embodiment, the switching device includes a relay.

In one embodiment, the thermostat further includes a user interface element in electrical communication with the computing device. In one embodiment, the thermostat further includes a user input element in communication with the computing device.

The HVAC system further includes a first HVAC unit operably coupled to the first connector, wherein the first HVAC unit is not configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus, and second HVAC unit operably coupled to the second connector wherein the second HVAC unit is configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus.

In an embodiment, the computing device includes a microprocessor and a memory. In an embodiment, the computing device is further configured to operate the switching device based in part on the mode of operation of the first HVAC unit. In an embodiment, the computing device is further configured to operate the second HVAC unit in an operational mode based in part on the signals transmitted and received over the system bus.

In one aspect, a method of operating an HVAC system with the thermostat including a first connector operably coupled to a switching device and a second connector operably coupled to a computing device, the computing device configured to transmit and receive signals over a system bus is provided. The method includes operably coupling a first HVAC unit to the first connector, wherein the first HVAC unit is not configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus, operably coupling a second HVAC unit to the second connector, wherein the second HVAC unit is configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus, operating the thermostat to transmit a first command signal to operate the first HVAC unit in a conditioning mode, and operating the thermostat to transmit a second command signal to operate the second HVAC unit in the conditioning mode.

In an embodiment, operating the thermostat to transmit a first command signal to operate the first HVAC unit in a conditioning mode includes operating the switching device to complete an electrical circuit. In an embodiment, operating the thermostat to transmit a second command signal to operate the second HVAC unit in the conditioning mode includes operating the computing device to transmit a signal over the system bus.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a HVAC system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic flow diagram of a method of operating the HVAC system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates an embodiment of an HVAC system, generally indicated at 10. The HVAC system 10 includes a thermostat 12 operably coupled to a first HVAC unit 14 and a second HVAC unit 16. The thermostat 12 is configured to control the operation of the first HVAC unit 14 and the second HVAC unit 16 to deliver conditioned air to an interior space (not shown). It will be appreciated that either the first HVAC unit 14 or the second HVAC unit 16 may be an indoor HVAC unit, for example, a furnace, fan coil, geothermal heat pump, oil furnace, etc. to name a few non limiting examples. It will further be appreciated that either the first HVAC unit 14 or the second HVAC unit 16 may be an outdoor HVAC unit, for example, an air conditioner, heat pump, packaged unit, etc. to name a few non-limiting examples.

Thermostat 12 includes a switching device 18 in electrical communication with a computing device 20 that further includes a microprocessor 22 and a memory 24, and may be, for example, capable of storing and reading input data, performing calculations, and reporting the results of calculations. In an embodiment, the switching device 18 includes a relay. In an embodiment, the computing device 20 is further configured to operate the switching device 18 based in part on the mode of operation of either the first HVAC unit 14 or the second HVAC unit 16.

The thermostat 12 further includes a first connector 28 operably coupled to the switching device 18. The first connector 28 is configured to accept a wiring configuration based in part on the equipment type of either the first HVAC unit 14 or the second HVAC unit 16. For example, the first connector 28 may have several designations (e.g., “R”, “W”, “Y”, “G”, “C”, etc.) associated with a particular terminal on the first connector 28. Each terminal on the first connector 28 is operably coupled to the switching device 18 to form one or more 24 VAC circuits.

In the embodiment shown, a one-to-one wiring configuration connection from the first HVAC unit 14 is operably coupled to the first connector 28. To properly wire the first HVAC unit 14, a wire may be connected to the same terminal designations found on a first HVAC unit connector 30 in the first HVAC unit 14.

The thermostat 12 further includes a second connector 32 in electrical communication with the computing device 20. The computing device 20 is further configured to transmit and receive control signals and power over a system bus 34 coupled to the second connector 32.

In one embodiment, the thermostat 12 includes a user interface element 40, such as a graphical user interface (GUI), a touch screen display, a LCD display, or other means by which a user of the HVAC system 10 can be apprised of system status and/or particular characteristics of the HVAC system 10. In an embodiment, the thermostat 12 also has a user input element 42, such as a keypad, keyboard, touch screen or other data input means, which allows a user of the HVAC system 10 to change the operation of the HVAC system 10. It will be appreciated that the user input element 42 may be incorporated into the user interface element 40.

FIG. 2 illustrates a method of operating the HVAC system 10 with the thermostat 12, the method generally indicated at 100. The method 100 includes step 102 of coupling the first HVAC unit 14 to the first connector 28 and step 104 of coupling the second HVAC unit 16 to the second connector 32.

The method further includes step 106 of operating the thermostat 12 to transmit a first command signal to operate the first HVAC unit 14 in a conditioning mode. In an embodiment, based on the mode of operation, the computing device 20 may operate the switching device 18 to complete a 24VAC circuit to control the operation of the first HVAC unit 28. For example, if there is a need for heating, the “R” terminal may represent 24 VAC, the “C” terminal may represent an electrical common, and the “W” terminal may represent a connection to operate in heating. The computing device 20 may operate the switching device 18 to complete the 24VAC circuit through the designated “R”, “W”, and “C” terminals to operate HVAC unit 14 in a heating mode.

The method further includes step 108 of operating the thermostat 12 to transmit a second command signal to operate the second HVAC unit 16 in the conditioning mode. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the second HVAC unit 16 is configured to transmit and receive control signals and power over the system bus 34 via a second HVAC unit connector 36 operably coupled to a unit controller 38. For example, the second connector 32 may have designations (e.g., “A”, “B”, “C”, “D”, etc.) associated with a particular terminal on the second connector 32. To properly wire the second HVAC unit 16, a wire may be connected to the same terminal designations found on the second HVAC unit connector 36 in the second HVAC unit 16.

It will therefore be appreciated that the thermostat 12 may operate the first HVAC unit 14 by operating the switching device 18 to complete a 24VAC circuit based on the mode of operation, and simultaneously operate a second HVAC unit 16 by transmitting and receiving signals over the system bus 34; thus, providing a single thermostat option for any configuration of an HVAC system.

While the disclosure has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only certain embodiments have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the disclosure are desired to be protected. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermostat comprising: a switching device; a first connector operably coupled to the switching device; a computing device in electrical communication with the switching device; a second connector operably coupled to the computing device; and a system bus operably coupled to the computing device and the second connector; wherein the computing device is configured to transmit and receive signals to the second connector over the system bus.
 2. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the computing device is further configured to operate the switching device.
 3. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a microprocessor and a memory.
 4. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a user interface element in electrical communication with the microprocessor.
 5. The thermostat of claim 1, further comprising a user input element in communication with the microprocessor.
 6. The thermostat of claim 1, wherein the switching device comprises a relay.
 7. An HVAC system comprising: a thermostat comprising: a switching device; a first connector operably coupled to the switching device; a computing device in electrical communication with the switching device; a second connector operably coupled to the computing device; and a system bus operably coupled to the computing device and the second connector; wherein the computing device is configured to transmit and receive signals to the second connector over the system bus; a first HVAC unit operably coupled to the first connector, wherein the first HVAC unit is not configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus; and a second HVAC unit operably coupled to the second connector wherein the second HVAC unit is configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus.
 8. The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the computing device is further configured to operate the switching device based in part on the mode of operation of the first HVAC unit.
 9. The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the computing device is further configured to operate the second HVAC unit in an operational mode based in part on the signals transmitted and received over the system bus.
 10. The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the computing device comprises a microprocessor and a memory.
 11. The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the thermostat further comprises a user interface element in electrical communication with the computing device.
 12. The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the thermostat further comprises a user input element in communication with the computing device.
 13. The HVAC system of claim 7, wherein the switching device comprises a relay.
 14. A method of operating an HVAC system with thermostat including a first connector operably coupled to a switching device and a second connector operably coupled to a computing device, the computing device configured to transmit and receive signals over a system bus, the method comprising: (a) operably coupling a first HVAC unit to the first connector, wherein the first HVAC unit is not configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus; (b) operably coupling a second HVAC unit to the second connector, wherein the second HVAC unit is configured to transmit and receive signals over the system bus; (c) operating the thermostat to transmit a first command signal to operate the first HVAC unit in a conditioning mode; and (d) operating the thermostat to transmit a second command signal to operate the second HVAC unit in the conditioning mode.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein step (c) comprises operating the switching device to complete an electrical circuit.
 16. The method of claim 14, wherein the second command signal comprises operating the computing device to transmit a signal over the system bus. 